SUBURBAN POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Suburban Police Department Takes Disadvantaged Children Christmas Shopping
BY WENDELL HUTSON
Contributing Writer
It’s not often that you see a police officer early in the morning doing some Christmas shopping with children, but that’s exactly what one south suburban police department did this year for 14 elementary students.
On Saturday, several Robbins police officers including Police Chief Roy Williams Sr. and Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward, took children from seven, local schools to Walmart in nearby Crestwood and let them pick out $100 worth of gifts from toys to clothes as it kicked off its annual “Shop with a Cop” Christmas program.
“In conjunction with the Village of Robbins, we raised $1,500 through donations from community stakeholders from businesses to everyday residents to bring kids from low-income households (identified by social workers) Christmas shopping,” explained Williams. “I think the program went well this year and next year, we plan to make it bigger and better.”
Rashawnda Myles, a 22-year-old single mother of three boys, said the presents came on time as she was struggling to buy everything her children wanted for Christmas.
“It means a lot to have the police department helping needy families out. That’s less stress on parents unable to give their children a happy Christmas,” said Myles. “I don’t want to be greedy, so next year I hope it’s a new set of kids chosen for this blessing.”
Nolan Dotson, a 6-year-old kindergartener at Turner Elementary School in Robbins, was among the children treated to free gifts. He picked out a lot of toys, but said his favorite toy was a motorized dart gun.
“I like this toy. It’s the best,” said Nolan. “I like my other toys too, but I like this one the most because it looks cool.”
Nolan’s mother, Tanisha Nolan, 36, thanked Robbins police for their generosity and said, “as a single parent, I have to buy everything for my kids, so this shopping spree gives me a much needed break from Christmas shopping.”
Joining the police, children and parents was Ward, who said the program not only benefits children, but police officers as well.
“Seeing police officers shopping with kids is not an image most people see, but is one that is very much realistic as police officers are human beings too,” said Ward. “This kind of program should be duplicated from other police departments especially in the southlands where I know it’s needed.”
Businessman Wendell Poole owns Poole Parts & Towing in Robbins and said he donated money to the program “because it was the right thing to do” and was accompanied by longtime community activist Andrew Holmes.
“This is what you call community policing when you can [see] police officers engaged with the community to do something good,” said Holmes. “It does not have to always be a negative experience when you encounter the police as the Robbins Police Department is showing us.”
As officers checked out at the counter with their child, a few officers teased fellow officers who did not stay within the $100 limit. One female officer shouted with joy when her total was $99.96.
“Let’s see you beat that,” she said. “I know how to keep it tight and not go over budget.”
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